ERAIFT participated in a workshop on the presentation of harmonized Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and pilot testing for the management of seized and confiscated wildlife products and live specimens from the illegal wildlife trade in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This workshop was held from December 17 to 19, 2024, at the Maison de France, located at No. 33, Avenue des Forces Armées, in the Gombe Commune.
Organized by TRAFIC and JURISTRALE, the workshop provided a valuable opportunity to introduce the harmonized SOPs and train law enforcement agencies on their effective implementation, following discussions among various stakeholders.
The three-day workshop, which ran daily from 8:30 AM to 5:20 PM, was structured as follows:
· First Day (December 17, 2024): Experts presented the harmonized SOPs to ensure that members of the DRC’s working group on managing seized wildlife products and confiscated live specimens fully understood the procedures. The day also included training for stakeholders on various modules related to the management of these products and specimens in the DRC.
· Second Day (December 18, 2024): A field visit was conducted to pilot-test the SOPs for managing wildlife products and live specimens at the ICCN Zoological Garden.
· Third Day (December 19, 2024): The final day was dedicated to formulating recommendations based on the results of the pilot test of the harmonized SOPs.
By the end of the workshop, the members of the working group on managing seized wildlife products and confiscated live specimens had gained a thorough understanding of the harmonized SOPs. Law enforcement officers from various agencies had also mastered the procedures and principles for managing seized wildlife products and live specimens. Finally, the results and recommendations from the pilot test of the SOPs were reviewed and validated.
ERAIFT extends its sincere gratitude to the organizers, including FABS of USAID, ICCN, with support from TRAFIC and in collaboration with JURISTRALE, for the excellent organization of this event. It also expresses its deep appreciation to FABS of USAID for funding this important initiative. Lastly, we extend our sincere gratitude to UE/AGRINATURA for their continued trust in ERAIFT.
